5 Things You Need to Know About Breastfeeding and Bottle-Feeding

As a new mom, you’ve heard “breast is the best” a zillion times. Breastfeeding is a super-healthy option for you and your little one, but it’s not always possible. Some new moms choose not to nurse, and others opt to bottle-feed their babies if they can’t breastfeed for medical or physical reasons. Your baby is, well, your baby, and how you feed her is a completely personal choice. With that in mind, pick the option that works best for the both of you. After all, a well-fed baby is a happy baby, and every mom wants that! Read on for more info about the options.

1. There are organic options. You’re entirely into organics. You feed yourself, your S.O., and your toddler 100 percent organic meals three times a day (plus a few snacks, of course). By going organic, you think breastfeeding is the healthiest option, because you’re not exactly adding extra growth hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides to your breast milk. But that’s not entirely true. You can formula-feed your baby and keep things organic too. Happy Family is a growing baby food brand that specializes in organic foods and, more recently, formula. Not only is their organic infant formula made from carefully sourced ingredients, but it also provides the just-right balance of prebiotics that your little one needs.

2. You’ll bond with your baby. Breastfeeding is a total bonding activity.You’re snuggling with your baby, holding her close, and giving her the nourishment that she needs. So it would seem that bottle-feeding mamas are left out. Um, not exactly. It’s still perfectly possible to bond with your baby while bottle-feeding. Like nursing, you can hold your baby close to your chest. Looking into her eyes and creating that emotional connection is the next step in bonding, even while you bottle-feed.

3. The cost varies. Babies are expensive. Seriously. You probably never thought you’d have a binky budget, an entire credit card just for diapers, and day-care costs that rival college tuition. Breastfeeding is obviously cost-effective. Hey, you’ve already got the milk anyway! When it comes to bottle-feeding, formula costs vary depending on which brand you choose. Even though you can find some less expensive options out there, sometimes you get what you pay for. Don’t swap quality for a lower price tag.

4. There are tons of health benefits. You’ve already heard that breastfeeding has tons of health benefits for your baby. The antibodies, cells, and hormones that come from the breastmilk and nourish your baby may actually reduce the risk of childhood ear infections, asthma, vomiting, eczema, lower respiratory infections, SIDS, and possibly even childhood obesity. Even though formula can’t completely mimic breastmilk, some infant formulas have prebiotics that work to promote healthy bacteria growth in baby’s gut. It’s not breastmilk, but it still benefits baby!

5. It’s not all or none: Breastfeeding isn’t always an all-in option. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that women breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. Maybe you have to go back to work, pumping just isn’t happening, and you need to feed your baby. Or maybe your baby just isn’t getting enough to eat, and your doc suggested supplementing her diet with formula. Don’t stress. Supplementing isn’t a bad word. It’s a way to make sure that your baby is getting what she needs right now. Choosing a formula that’s similar to breastmilk and has natural, quality ingredients makes supplementing easier on everyone.

Is breastfeeding or bottle-feeding the better option for you and your baby?Share your pick and tweet us @BritandCo!

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Erica Loop is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh. When she's not busy creating kids' activities for her blog Mini Monets and Mommies, you can find her trying to hang out with her teenage son, being chased by her two Olde Boston Bulldogs or teaching a children's karate class (she's a third degree black belt!).